The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-11-22
MR.. BAYARD's PLANS.
What the Americans Will Ask of the
Rritishers.


New YORK, Nov. 21.-A Washington spe-
cial ON the fisheries says: ''Some surprise
was manifested, when, at the Friday after
noon reception arranged by Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain for the newspaper correspond
ents, Mr.. Chamberlain suggested that the
result of the Commissions deliberations
would be a new treaty. If the leading men,
Der of the British half of the Commission
took so to the production of a new treaty in
stead of an explanatory convention, merely
intended to make clear the treaty of 1918, it
is apparent that he takes the same view of
the situation as Secretary Bayard has here
tofore held, and probably still holds. Mr..
Bayard has repeatedly asserted officially,
and in private conversation, that no satisfac-
tory conclusion could be reached which did
not find expression in an unmistakable agree
ment as to the rights of the United States
on the Banadian border, and particularly the
commercial and fishery rights. 1t is safe to
assume that the position Mr.. Bayard occu-
pied year ago he continues to stand to, and
that he has communicated his views TO Mr..
Angel and Mr.. Putnam. who will be his as
sistants in negotiating with the British COM
missioners. So frequently has the position
of the State Department been reiter ated
that it ought to be superiuous at this time to
predict what the representatives of the
United States will ask the Commission to do
tomorrow, when the commissioners rs meet to
exchange protocols. The annoyances to tn e
fishing vessels of the United States on the
Canadian coast from the Dominion police
boats have arisen out of strained and yex-
atious construction of the treaty OF 1918.
Other treaties have been made and terminal
ed since that treaty was ratified, and after
each return to the convention of 1918 the old
troubles have arisen. The Canadians have
asserted their right to protect their lnshore
fisheries The United States fishermen. to
whom the inshore fisheries have ceased to be
regarded as worth cOntending for, have
clamored for an assertion by the United
States of unrestricted commercial privilege,
the right of fishermen to enter all Canadian
ports for all purposes except TO take, BUY or
cure fish, these three privileges being forbid
den by the treaty of 1913.
$50 precise have the. Canadians been in in
terpreting the treaty phraseology that they
have construed the permission TO enter the
harbors of Canada ''for the purpose Of shell
ter and of repairing damages therein, OF
purchasing wood and obtaining water, and
for no other purpose whatever" to mean
that American fishermen cannot buy bait or
ice or enjoy privileges accorded to all vessels
except fishing vessels. SO Mr.. Bayard and
his associates, in stating the object sought
to be attained by the American Commits
sioners, will refer to the article of the treaty
of 1918, under which all the differences have
arisen, and will propose remedy. be Will
ask that lines shall be agreed upon separat-
ing the exclusive from the common right of
fishing on the British North American coast.
TO settle the headland controversy he will
ask that it shall be agreed that hereafter the
bays and harbors from which American fish,
ermen are to be excluded, except for en-
trance to ports, are TO be bays and harbors
which are ten or less miles in width, the
distance of three marine miles from such
bays to be measured from a straight line to
be drawn across the bay at the point nearest
the entrance, and at the first point where
the width does not exceed ten miles. An ef-
fort will be made to secure an agreement
upon regulations to govern the entrance OF
United States fishermen to bays and harbOrs
Tor shelter, repairs, purchasing of wood, and
obtaining water, to establish penalties for
Infringement of the regulations and for the
speedy trial Of offenders. As means of
carrying out the provisions OF such treaty
it will be proposed that Great Britain and
the United States shall each keep national
vessel cruising in the Gulf of st. Lawrence.
When a vessel of either nation is seized for
violation of the treaty. the commanding Off
GERS OF the two national vessels shall inquire
into the charge. If they agree that there
vessel shall be released. # it is
their opinion that the vessel should
be subject to judicial examination
it is to be taken into Halifax and the case
heard in the Vice Admiralty Court. In case
of difference of opinion as to the culpabil-
ty of the seized vessel an umpire
or third person chosen by lot is to
decide whether it is to be brought to
trial. A very important point that the
United States Commissioners will ask to
have declared in the treaty will be that the
fishing vessels of the United States shall
have the same commercial privaleges in Ca
madam ports as other vessels of the United
States, including the purchase of bait and
other supplies, subject to regulations pre-
scribed for other than fishing vessels.
$50 long as Mr.. Chamberlain feels obliged
to maintain silence as to the extent to which
these expectations Of Secretary Bayard are
to be conceded, or what part of them is to be
rejected. just so long will the outcome of the
commission remain a matter of doubt. One
remark made by Mr.. Chamberlain in refer
ring to the proposition for commercial trea-
ty has not been repeated. 1t seemed to him
that the favored nation clause might stand
in the way of an arrangement of that sort,
for the empire has treaties with several
countries that would have to be borne in
mind in entering into a commercial union
with the United States"